Six Homes Burned in North Odessa

2008-04-18T03:17:03Z2008-04-18T04:06:52Z

By Camaron AbundesNewsWest 9

NORTH ODESSA- Heavy black smoke erupted into the sky, as a fire in North Odessa burned six homes, damaged two others, and burned several outbuildings before crews could get a handle on the blaze on Thursday. The Red Cross stepped up to help seven people displaced by the fire, that started around 1:30pm.

"It moved fast, the wind blowing, just the fire was gushing on down," said Betty Lou Teal, who says the fire got within one hundred feet of her home, "I was horrified I really was."

Hundreds were evacuated as DPS Troopers and members of the Ector County Sheriff's Office blocked off parts of West Yukon. The Texas Forest Service, Odessa Fire Department, West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department, Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department, Goldsmith Volunteer Fire Department, and Midland Fire Department showed up to help.

"The fire department was able to jump on it pretty darn quick, and got it knocked down, but there were some structures lost," John Bear with the Texas Service, said.

Bear says the crews saved 40 homes in the line of fire. Investigators believe the fire started with electrical problems, but it's still unclear whether or not is started inside a home.